KanjiSchool
首
首 (readings: しゅ, くび; Japanese kanji) means “neck / head”. It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 首都 (capital).
What does 首 mean?
| Kanji | 首 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | neck / head |
| Readings | しゅ, くび |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 首
首 is read しゅ or くび depending on the word.
Example words with 首
| Example | 首都 (capital) |
|---|
Practice writing 首 — free
See 首's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14